Fruity Meringue Bites

Sometimes, the extent of making a sweet treat only goes as far as slapping on some peanut butter& jelly on bread and calling it a day. But then, there are times when you strive for excellence. When you want to make things that only the finest Parisian patisseries have, all while pirouetting around the kitchen and screaming out French phrases. Ah, c’est magnifique! I’m speaking from personal experience here, because that’s exactly the kind of mood I was in when concocting these Fruity Meringue Bites.

Their crisp outer layer envelopes a sweet, yet slightly sour center where the flavour of fruit and jam fuse together into a perfect combination. Ideal for an afternoon with coffee or a post-dinner snack for guests, these Bites are easy to make and sure to impress. Just go easy on the jam because it’s sweet, so your lips may stick together –and that’s no good unless you’re keeping secrets.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar

2 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 box strawberries

4 tbsp apricot jam

To make your own:

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

Separate the eggs and place the whites into a large bowl. Beat with a whisk until they form peaks that stand on their own. Then, add your sugar and keep beating until the mixture regains some of its structure. Transfer the mixture into a ziplock bag and cut the corner, squeezing it out onto a greased baking sheet to make round medallions –half flat, and half with spiraling tops. Place them into the preheated oven for 60-75 minutes. But this time can vary so make sure to keep an eye on them. You want them to dry out.

After they’re out of the oven, the meringues are ready for their filling. Spread a small teaspoon of jam on each bottom half, then add a strawberry slice, and top it off with the spiraling meringue lid. Just be careful to do all this right before you eat it, or serve them. Otherwise, you risk turning them from crunchy, to soggy. Now bite in!